Political Institutions of Political Institutions of the People’s Republic the People’s Republic

of Chinaof China

SOSC 152SOSC 152

CCPLegislature Executive

Judicial

Military

Key Characteristics of Key Characteristics of Political SystemPolitical System

►Political system dominated by the CCPPolitical system dominated by the CCP►Highly bureaucratized—”the Highly bureaucratized—”the

permanent bureaucratic society.”permanent bureaucratic society.”►Power based partly on “power of Power based partly on “power of

posts”posts”►Highly centralized system, with top Highly centralized system, with top

leaders wielding enormous power; leaders wielding enormous power; “Mao in command” model.“Mao in command” model.

Unstable Institutions and Unstable Institutions and Importance of Personal PowerImportance of Personal Power

►But (1) power also based on personal But (1) power also based on personal relations—”guanxi”—who is your relations—”guanxi”—who is your political network?political network?

►Deng Xiaoping mobilized whole Deng Xiaoping mobilized whole country to speed up reforms in 1992 country to speed up reforms in 1992 when his only formal post was when his only formal post was President of Chinese Bridge President of Chinese Bridge Association.Association.

Deep State Penetration into Deep State Penetration into SocietySociety

►2. CCP penetrated down to village 2. CCP penetrated down to village level through party committees (1,000 level through party committees (1,000 people).people).

► In Qing Dynasty, county government In Qing Dynasty, county government was lowest level of state power was lowest level of state power (200,000 people).(200,000 people).

► In cities, CCP has penetrated down to In cities, CCP has penetrated down to neighborhood committees neighborhood committees

Horizontal Control by CCP Horizontal Control by CCP Committees at all Levels of Committees at all Levels of

HierarchyHierarchy► 3. Every level of government or 3. Every level of government or

administrative hierarchy has party administrative hierarchy has party committee which can monitor the committee which can monitor the government at that level.government at that level.

►Party committees tend to dominate Party committees tend to dominate local decisions—can intervene in local decisions—can intervene in economic decisions.economic decisions.

The Structure of Political The Structure of Political SystemSystem

►administrative hierarchy of government, administrative hierarchy of government, legislatures, courts and the CCP.legislatures, courts and the CCP.

►Running from Central government in Running from Central government in Beijing, to provinces, municipalities Beijing, to provinces, municipalities (district), county, township, (district), county, township, administrative village, natural villages.administrative village, natural villages.

►But today, Communist Party dominates But today, Communist Party dominates all aspects except the economy.all aspects except the economy.

Legislative

National People’s Congress

NPC Standing

Committee

Provincial-level People’s

Congresses

County-level People’s

Congresses

Township People’s

Congresses

Representative Village Committee

CPPCC

Party

National Party Congress

Central Committee

Politburo

Secretariat

Central Discipline Inspection

CommissionOrganization Dept Rural Work Dept Propaganda Dept

Provincial-level Party Committees

Municipal Party Committees

County-level Party Committees

Township Party Committees

Village Party Committees

Military Affairs

Commission

Standing Committee

of the Politburo

Judicial

Supreme People’s

Procurator

Supreme People’s

Court

Intermediate & Lower

Court & Procurators

Executive

Ministries and Commissions

Provincial-level

Bureaus

County-level Bureaus

Prefecture Bureaus

Provincial-level

Government

Prefecture Governments

County-level Government

s

Township Government

s

Village Committe

e

Prime Minister

Vice Premier

President & Vice

President

State Council

State Councilor

s

Party National Party Congress

Central Committee

Politburo

Secretariat

Central Discipline Inspection

CommissionOrganization Dept Rural Work Dept Propaganda Dept

Provincial-level Party Committees

Municipal Party Committees

Country-level Party Committees

Township Party Committees

Village Party Committees

Military Affairs

Commission

Standing Committee

of the Politburo

Standing Committee of Politburo Standing Committee of Politburo (SC-PB)(SC-PB)

Most powerful people in China!Most powerful people in China!

► Controls all aspects of political systemControls all aspects of political system► Currently 9 members—has been as few as 5Currently 9 members—has been as few as 5► most members control one of key SIX “most members control one of key SIX “systemssystems””

1.1. party affairs—relations with other CCPs and party life.party affairs—relations with other CCPs and party life.2.2. organizational affairs—allocates all party positionsorganizational affairs—allocates all party positions3.3. propaganda and education-education, news, collegespropaganda and education-education, news, colleges4.4. political and legal affairs—responsible for courts, police, political and legal affairs—responsible for courts, police,

“strike hard campaign”“strike hard campaign”5.5. finance and economics—led by Prime Ministerfinance and economics—led by Prime Minister6.6. Military—CCP tries to maintain civilian control of armyMilitary—CCP tries to maintain civilian control of army

You’re Nobody if you’re not on You’re Nobody if you’re not on the the Central Committee!!Central Committee!!

► All key power brokers either full or alternate All key power brokers either full or alternate members of CC-CCP.members of CC-CCP.

►Meets in Plenary Session about twice a year Meets in Plenary Session about twice a year to approve important policy decisions, can to approve important policy decisions, can totally redirect previous policy and take totally redirect previous policy and take China in new direction:China in new direction:

- Reform era began in with 3- Reform era began in with 3rdrd Plenum of Plenum of Eleventh CC in December 1978, Deng Eleventh CC in December 1978, Deng overturned strategy outlined by Hua overturned strategy outlined by Hua Guofeng in July 1977 at 11Guofeng in July 1977 at 11thth PC. PC.

Party Secretariat and Party Secretariat and Its Key DepartmentsIts Key Departments

►Organizational Dept.Organizational Dept.— responsible for — responsible for all party posts, key government posts, all party posts, key government posts, and is a key position to affect and is a key position to affect succession.succession.

►Propaganda DeptPropaganda Dept.—monitors press, tv, .—monitors press, tv, organizes ideological study campaigns.organizes ideological study campaigns.

►Rural Work DeptRural Work Dept.—makes rural policy..—makes rural policy.►People’s DailyPeople’s Daily— top CCP newspaper and — top CCP newspaper and

editorial board making public policyeditorial board making public policy

Executive Executive OrganizatioOrganizationsns(the government)(the government)

Prime Minister

Vice Premier

President & Vice

President

State Council

Ministries and Commissions

Provincial-level Bureaus

Prefecture Bureaus

Country-level

Bureaus

Provincial-level

Bureaus

Prefecture Governments

Country-level

Governments

Township Government

s

Village Committe

e

State Councilors

State CouncilState Council

►High degree of High degree of overlappingoverlapping directorshipdirectorship — —Prime Minister often Prime Minister often 3rd ranking member of SC-PB.3rd ranking member of SC-PB.

►Some Vice Premiers are members of Some Vice Premiers are members of PB-SC or Politburo.PB-SC or Politburo.

►Prime Minister needs support of Prime Minister needs support of General Secretary of CCP to push General Secretary of CCP to push policies.policies.

Legislative

National People’s Congress

NPC Standing

Committee

Provincial-level People’s

Congresses

Country-level People’s

Congresses

Township People’s Congresses

Representative Village Committee

CPPCCLegislature(makes the laws)

China’s Parliament:China’s Parliament:National People’s CongressNational People’s Congress

► Meets every 5 years to elect government leaders--Meets every 5 years to elect government leaders--President, PM, Vice Premiers, all approved before by PB-President, PM, Vice Premiers, all approved before by PB-SC.SC.

► Also, meets yearly to address key issues related to legal Also, meets yearly to address key issues related to legal affairs, financial affairs, etc.affairs, financial affairs, etc.

► Mostly rubber stamp, as laws or key decisions originate Mostly rubber stamp, as laws or key decisions originate with CCP, approved by CCP’s committees. with CCP, approved by CCP’s committees.

► During NPC, top leaders visit provincial delegations, During NPC, top leaders visit provincial delegations, discuss regional problems.discuss regional problems.

► Centre for popular input into laws and economy through Centre for popular input into laws and economy through its committees; professionals may work with committees.its committees; professionals may work with committees.

► Major event in 1987 when only 2/3 of NPC members Major event in 1987 when only 2/3 of NPC members supported Three Gorges Dam, 1/3 abstained.supported Three Gorges Dam, 1/3 abstained.

Military Affairs Military Affairs CommissionCommission

Mao: “Mao: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”► Directly under Standing Committee of Directly under Standing Committee of

Politburo.Politburo.► General Secretary of CCP usually Chair of General Secretary of CCP usually Chair of

MACMAC► Vice-Chair may be civilian, other posts Vice-Chair may be civilian, other posts

belong to military.belong to military.► Jiang Zemin held this post 1 year after Jiang Zemin held this post 1 year after

giving up head of CCP, hoping it would giving up head of CCP, hoping it would provide leverage over Hu Jintao.provide leverage over Hu Jintao.

How does the CCP How does the CCP Control the Military?Control the Military?

Mao: “Mao: “The Party must always control the gun, the gun The Party must always control the gun, the gun must never control the Party.”must never control the Party.”

►Military Affairs Committee (MAC)Military Affairs Committee (MAC)► budgetary allocations from State Council and budgetary allocations from State Council and

Ministry of FinanceMinistry of Finance► Political Commissars--every military unit has Political Commissars--every military unit has

CCP official who maintains party authority.CCP official who maintains party authority.►Overlapping membership in CC-CCP and Overlapping membership in CC-CCP and

Politburo, but no member of PB-SC for many Politburo, but no member of PB-SC for many years.years.

Power of PLA Ebbs and FlowsPower of PLA Ebbs and Flows

►Military has power to speak out on Taiwan Military has power to speak out on Taiwan issues and perhaps Sino-US relations.issues and perhaps Sino-US relations.

► Chaos of Cultural Revolution forced Mao to Chaos of Cultural Revolution forced Mao to call in army in 1968, army had influence for call in army in 1968, army had influence for many years. many years.

►Military failure in war with Vietnam in Military failure in war with Vietnam in 19791979budget cuts until 1989, when it saved budget cuts until 1989, when it saved CCP by attacking students in Tiananmen CCP by attacking students in Tiananmen Square on Deng’s commands.Square on Deng’s commands.

► 12-14% annual increase in spending; official 12-14% annual increase in spending; official defense budget--US$30 billion, foreign defense budget--US$30 billion, foreign estimates--US$90 billion.estimates--US$90 billion.

Map of ChinaMap of China

Center

Province and Provincial Level Cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing,

Tianjin)

MunicipalityRuralRural

UrbanCounty

Township

Administrative Village

Natural Village

Residence Committee

Urban Distinct

Party Penetrates the Party Penetrates the GovernmentGovernment

► Every government office, university Every government office, university department, or enterprise, has a party department, or enterprise, has a party branch and party secretary.branch and party secretary.

► Province, has governor and Province, has governor and party secretaryparty secretary -- latter has greater authority. -- latter has greater authority.

► In state-owned factory, party secretary In state-owned factory, party secretary wields greater power than manager.wields greater power than manager.

► Politics permitting, the Party Secretary Politics permitting, the Party Secretary will try to intervene in will try to intervene in economiceconomic decisions.decisions.

Territorial Party Committees Territorial Party Committees

►Party Committee at each level ofParty Committee at each level ofadministrative hierarchy dominates.administrative hierarchy dominates.

►Often interferes in government decisions.Often interferes in government decisions.►Members responsible for education, Members responsible for education,

industry, agriculture, population control, industry, agriculture, population control, propaganda, and selection of key propaganda, and selection of key government officials at next level down government officials at next level down through Organizational Department. through Organizational Department.

Central Committee

Secretariat

Organizational Department Lists of Post:

Chinese Academy of Science

LIST:

•President

•Vice President

•Members of Party Core Group

•Head of Discipline Inspection Group

Ministry of Education LIST:

•Minister

•Party Secretary

•Members of Party Core Group

Beijing University

LIST:

•Party Secretary

•President of University

Nomenklatura Nomenklatura System and System and

the Power of the Power of AppointmentAppointment

► Key to party control over personnel appointments Key to party control over personnel appointments and source of its power over and source of its power over governmentgovernment

County Level

Guangzhou Party Organization Department

Guangzhou Municipal Government

Guangzhou Municipal Energy Department

Zhongshan County Government

Zhongshan County Energy Department

Zhongshan County CCP Committee

CCP County Organizatio

n Departmen

t

Overlapping Hierarchy

No Independent JudiciaryNo Independent Judiciary

► Personal power dominates China--”rule of Personal power dominates China--”rule of man” over the “rule of law.”man” over the “rule of law.”

►Officials like it this way, enhances their Officials like it this way, enhances their authority.authority.

► all lower levels judges appointed and paid by all lower levels judges appointed and paid by county party committee.county party committee.

►Outsiders rarely win in another city—Outsiders rarely win in another city—Chongqing firm won’t sue Shanghai for IPR Chongqing firm won’t sue Shanghai for IPR infringement because it cannot win in infringement because it cannot win in Shanghai.Shanghai.

Politics of the CourtsPolitics of the Courts

►Older judges ex-officers with no judicial training.Older judges ex-officers with no judicial training.► Crimes deemed sensitive or impacting social Crimes deemed sensitive or impacting social

order can be judged purely on political terms.order can be judged purely on political terms.► Forced confessions acceptable, defendants Forced confessions acceptable, defendants

have great difficulty proving police made false have great difficulty proving police made false arrest.arrest.

► New generation of judges, some with foreign New generation of judges, some with foreign educationeducation

► Case of young judge ruling for Central Case of young judge ruling for Central government against local People’s Congress led government against local People’s Congress led to political attack on her (NYT).to political attack on her (NYT).

Comparing Political Comparing Political Institutions in Institutions in

Socialist CountriesSocialist Countries

SOSC 152SOSC 152

A. Introductory Comments:A. Introductory Comments:

1. Unstable political institutions 1. Unstable political institutions ► despite totalitarian image, major shifts in despite totalitarian image, major shifts in

power among major political institutions.power among major political institutions.► despite rules outlining when despite rules outlining when

organizations will meet, rules often organizations will meet, rules often broken, party congresses often did not broken, party congresses often did not meetmeet

► low level of political institutionalization low level of political institutionalization

Why?Why?

1. Unstable political institutions1. Unstable political institutions

► a. Charismatic leadership, where a. Charismatic leadership, where individual power often more individual power often more important than formal political important than formal political position.position.

► b. constant political competition b. constant political competition without institutionalized succession without institutionalized succession procedures leads individuals to try procedures leads individuals to try to control organizations which they to control organizations which they use to advance their own power.use to advance their own power.

► c. Result is "Shifting Locus of Authority" c. Result is "Shifting Locus of Authority" shifts among State Council, Politburo, Party shifts among State Council, Politburo, Party

Secretariat, Military Affairs CommissionSecretariat, Military Affairs Commission Mao's big push for collectivization not made in Mao's big push for collectivization not made in

Politburo or Central CommitteePolitburo or Central Committee Deng's recreation Secretariat in 1981 to Deng's recreation Secretariat in 1981 to

undermine Hua Guofeng's posts of Party undermine Hua Guofeng's posts of Party Chairman and prime minister.Chairman and prime minister.

► d. very limited role for Constitution which is d. very limited role for Constitution which is often revised often revised Constitution seen more as benchmark for shifts Constitution seen more as benchmark for shifts

in historical periods than as unchanging in historical periods than as unchanging document which has legitimacy or which divides document which has legitimacy or which divides power or authority among institutions.power or authority among institutions.

1. Unstable political institutions1. Unstable political institutions

2. Efforts to ensure party control over 2. Efforts to ensure party control over armyarmy

► occurs through budgetary control, dual occurs through budgetary control, dual penetration, overlapping authoritypenetration, overlapping authority

3. Overlapping rulership and overlapping 3. Overlapping rulership and overlapping authorityauthority

► people wear several hats, military, party, people wear several hats, military, party, governmentgovernment

► same decision often open to influence by same decision often open to influence by competing organizations and individualscompeting organizations and individuals

4. Unclear and weak property rights4. Unclear and weak property rights► allows for competing claims to industry and allows for competing claims to industry and

goodsgoods► allows political power, rather than clear allows political power, rather than clear

contractural agreements, to determine contractural agreements, to determine control over resources.control over resources.

5. Heavy bureaucracy due to planned 5. Heavy bureaucracy due to planned economyeconomy

► central planning created large economic central planning created large economic bureaucracybureaucracy

► party efforts to control the economy created party efforts to control the economy created parallel structureparallel structure

► heritage of central heritage of central

B. Three Main Organizations: B. Three Main Organizations: Party, Government, and MilitaryParty, Government, and Military

Party: Party: 1. Organizational Principles1. Organizational Principles► a. Hierarchical top down system, a. Hierarchical top down system,

local organizations as policy implementorslocal organizations as policy implementors lower levels report to upper levels, lower levels report to upper levels, elections from bottom up usually predetemined elections from bottom up usually predetemined

by next higher levelby next higher level

► b. Democratic Centralismb. Democratic Centralism lower levels obey upper levels, minority must lower levels obey upper levels, minority must

obey majority, obey majority, debate possible until decision made, then debate possible until decision made, then

everyone must obey.everyone must obey.

1. Organizational Principles1. Organizational Principles

► c. Dual Hierarchy of Party committess for all c. Dual Hierarchy of Party committess for all government and military organizationsgovernment and military organizations primary party organization wherever 3 members primary party organization wherever 3 members

in an organizationin an organization party group in all organizations to insure party group in all organizations to insure

following party policyfollowing party policy

► d. Nomenklatura: key control structure d. Nomenklatura: key control structure "list of names" or positions"list of names" or positions Organizational Bureau responsible for all key Organizational Bureau responsible for all key

positions in government and partypositions in government and party

2. Party Congresses2. Party Congresses► party congresses occur at all levels of the party congresses occur at all levels of the

systemsystem► rally of the faithful to elect party committees rally of the faithful to elect party committees

which are full-time representatives between which are full-time representatives between Party CongressesParty Congresses

► a. National Party Congress, elects Central a. National Party Congress, elects Central Committee, which elects Politburo and Committee, which elects Politburo and Standing Committee of Politburo (most Standing Committee of Politburo (most important organization)important organization) each member of Standing Committee or each member of Standing Committee or

Politburo sits atop one of 5 "KOU" Politburo sits atop one of 5 "KOU" industry, agriculture, public security and law, industry, agriculture, public security and law,

foreign affairs, culture and education.foreign affairs, culture and education.

2. Party Congresses2. Party Congresses

► b. Party Secretariatb. Party Secretariat core center of party bureaucracy, parallel structure for all core center of party bureaucracy, parallel structure for all

functional arenas or KOUfunctional arenas or KOU power shifts over time, strong under Deng in 1950s, closed power shifts over time, strong under Deng in 1950s, closed

during Cultural Revolutionduring Cultural Revolution Stalin used it to control party local elections which allowed Stalin used it to control party local elections which allowed

him to control membership in Central Committee, which him to control membership in Central Committee, which allowed him to carry out purgesallowed him to carry out purges

Central Committee meets in Party Plenum to map out Central Committee meets in Party Plenum to map out major policies between congressesmajor policies between congresses

► c. Military Affairs Commissionc. Military Affairs Commission Party committee to control the armyParty committee to control the army top military leaders also members, so reverse penetration top military leaders also members, so reverse penetration

can occurcan occur leads General Political Department, responsible for party leads General Political Department, responsible for party

and ideology in militaryand ideology in military